Fallon Says Culver’s In Trouble

This op-ed piece arrived in our inbox this afternoon from former state lawmaker/candidate for governor/congressional hopeful Ed Fallon. He says Gov. Chet Culver could be the next Norman Erbe unless he dances with the Democratic base:

Culver Needs to Learn to Dance

by Ed Fallon

Few leading Iowa Democrats will admit it publicly, but Governor Culver is in deep trouble. If something doesn’t change, and soon, he could be the first incumbent Iowa Governor ousted from office since Norman Erbe lost to Harold Hughes in 1962.

A litany of woes afflicts Governor Culver. Most notably, he has had issues with issues.

• Iowans have seen little to no progress on key front-and-center concerns such as climate change, labor law, campaign finance and the regulation of corporate hog confinements, to name a few.

• Right or wrong, there’s a broad perception that flood recovery efforts and the budget crisis have been mismanaged by the Governor’s office.

• Iowa’s economy continues to struggle – a situation somewhat beyond the Governor’s control, but depending upon his response, one that inevitably affects his popularity.

Governor Culver’s problems are reflected in a recent SurveyUSA poll that found his overall approval rating a dismal 42%. Among that all-important block of voters known as “independents,” it was 35%. (By comparison, Senator Grassleyscored a 58% overall approval rating, with 59% approval among independent voters, and Iowans gave President Obama a 57% approval rating, 50% among independent voters.)

Yet the Governor has another problem, a deeper problem, one that is frequently overlooked. While Culver may be out of favor with the vast majority of independent voters, even among Democrats, his approval rating is only 62%. That’s indicative of a profound dissatisfaction within Culver’s base.

Candidates – even incumbents – rarely prevail if their base is not with them.

Culver seems to have forgotten the all-important maxim “dance with the one that brought you.” A disturbing number of Party activists have told me they’ve been snubbed by the Governor, as have many elected officials. While failing to maintain good relations with one’s political base is always a bad idea, snubbing one’s base in advance of re-election is a recipe for political suicide.

I encourage other disgruntled Democrats to share their stories. Sometimes, it’s cathartic, even necessary, to air one’s dirty laundry. In a nutshell, my story is this:

After a series of meetings in July of 2006, Culver promised me that, as governor, he would advocate for campaign finance reform and support legislation to control urban sprawl. After nearly two-and-a-half years of mostly unreturned phone calls and of trying to build a working rapport with him and his staff, I finally shared my discontent publicly this past April.

What was the Governor’s response? He or his staff could have called. They could have addressed the substance of my dissatisfaction. But instead of offering to dance, Culver’s staff chose to publicly deride my concerns.

Some conventional political strategists argue that cultivating one’s base isn’t that important. They argue, in this case, that even if Democrats are deeply dissatisfied with Culver they’ll still vote for him. Those strategists may want to spend more time hob-knobbing with the rank-and-file, who tell me they may not vote for a Republican, but unless something changes, they don’t plan to vote for Culver either.

And what happens on Election Day is contingent upon the strength of a candidate’s organization leading up to Election Day. In 2006, I spoke on behalf of Culver at numerous events. I raised money for him. I actively encouraged everyone I spoke with to vote for him.

This time around, unless something changes, that’s not going to happen.

Like so many other disgruntled Iowa Democrats, I’m tired of being asked to be a campaign foot soldier only to be ignored – and to have the issues I care about ignored – once the election is over.

Governor Culver needs to turn over a new leaf. He needs to demand that his staff be more responsive. He needs to follow-through on the issues he promised to address. He needs to stop stepping on so many toes.

And he needs to dance with those of us who helped bring him to Terrace Hill. Otherwise, the next Iowan calling the tunes at the Governor’s Office could well be a Republican.

So is this unfair friendly fire from a snubbed pol with a healthy ego and no access, or is Fallon speaking hard truth to Lug?

Some of the points Fallon makes are valid. But he sort of loses me when he complains about his own inability to crack the administration firewall. I feel my eyes about to roll.

Still, his central point, that Culver made lots of promises to the base that he didn’t manage to keep, is an obstacle to re-election that the governor needs to navigate.

And again, much will depend on who Republicans nominate. If they veer hard right, they’ll make Culver’s base-repair job much easier.

Speaking of Republicans, they’ll love Fallon’s piece. Although I doubt he’ll get much acces to Gov. Rants’ office either.

Tuesday Column — A Bill of Goods

(I blogged a bit on this last week but expanded my thoughts today in something we old timers call the newspaper)

Bob Vander Plaats is selling Republican voters a bill of goods.

Last week, the Republican candidate for governor put out a media release again peddling the notion that, if elected, he would use an executive order to nullify an Iowa Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage. And this time, he also slapped his GOP primary rival, state Rep. Christopher Rants, for suggesting, correctly, that a governor doesn’t have that authority.

“Executives need to lead. This is not about winning the office, it’s about leading. That’s what separates me from anyone else out there,” Vander Plaats said.

Vander Plaats is a well-educated, thoughtful guy. But he’s wrong on two counts. Issuing an illegal executive order is not leading. And making promises you can’t deliver doesn’t separate you from other politicians. It makes you one of them.

Basically, and thankfully, a governor does not have the power to set aside a court ruling he or she doesn’t like. “A governor definitely does not have that authority,” said Mark McCormick, a former Supreme Court justice. “The system depends on the willingness of parties to abide by decisions.”

McCormick contends that Vander Plaats is “suggesting lawlessness.”

Before you dismiss McCormick as just another Democrat, remember he represented conservatives led by U.S. Rep. Steve King, who overturned Gov. Tom Vilsack’s gay rights executive order in 2000. That order was a minor executive overreach compared with the major power grab Vander Plaats advocates.

And not only is such an order unconstitutional, it simply won’t work.

If an order were issued, a court challenge would be filed immediately, ending in certain defeat for the governor. It’s likely that within hours the attorney general also would issue a formal opinion calling the order illegal. And any county attorney worth his or her law license will tell recorders to stick with the Supreme Court ruling and ignore the executive order.

The notion that Vander Plaats can ride in on a white horse and smite same-sex marriage with a magic pen is a cynical fairy tale.

And, if Vander Plaats wins the nomination, he’ll have to explain to general election voters that, even with huge economic challenges, a busted state budget and other pressing concerns, he plans to spend the opening months of his first term tied up in a legal battle over marriage.

Rants and other Republicans concede the only way to get past the court ruling is to amend the Constitution. It’s a long process. I don’t believe they’ll persuade Iowans to march backward. But at least they’re selling voters a dose of reality.

Lug on the Rocks

Krusty Konservative and others are pointing to new poll numbers from Survey USA that show Gov. Chet Culver’s approval rating sitting at just 42 percent.  His disapproval rating in the poll is 51 percent.

The poll of 600 adults has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percent. And for Dems, the survey yields a few troubling numbers.

Culver’s approval rating among Democrats is a paltry 62 percent, and only 36 percent of respondents ages 18-34 approve of his performance. He does best with voters over 65, who are split 48-48 approval/disapproval.

One piece of good news for Culver is that 54 percent of respondents who described themselves as “moderate” approve of his performance.

So is Culver vulnerable in 2010? Sure, but with a lousy economy and a budget mess you really didn’t need a poll to tell you that.

And again, vulnerability matters only  if Republicans nominate a quality candidate with broad appeal. That’s a big if at this early date.

Incidentally, in my unscientific GOP gov race poll over the weekend – with a margin of error of plus or minus 100 percent – the winner as of today was (drum roll) none of the above.

“Waiting for someone else” got 28 percent, nipping state Rep. Christopher Rants with 26 percent. Steve King was third with 13 percent.

In all, 127 people with nothing better to do voted. The polls remain open, however. You still have time to waste your time.

King of Snark

Politico leads its assessment of the rising tide of beltway snark with this anecdote:

When Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) mocked the relocation of Uighur ex-detainees to Bermuda, saying on the House floor Tuesday that the former Guantanamo prisoners would now waste away “in MargaUighurville,” it was only a matter of time.

Sure enough, a clip of the quip soon made its way around the Web, ending up late that night with a curtain call on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart.”

Snark sells — and Washington is trading in it heavily these days.

Ugh. I think snark just jumped the shark.

Rants Tweets In

State Rep. Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City has apparently tweeted himself into the race for governor. Or at least he’s filling papers to form an exploratory committee.

The news has taken the Internets by storm:

O. Kay Henderson says “Rants is In,” and she has updates from his appearance this morning on Iowa Press.

Iowa Independent has text of the fateful Rants Twitter tweet we’ve all been waiting for:

Todays to do list: 1 File exploratory committee papers 2 Tape IA Press 3 Hit the road & continue listening to Iowans kitchen table concerns

Kitchen table concerns. Finally, a candidate who cares that I left the house again without taking meat out the deep freeze to thaw. Wife’s going to kill me. Can the state help?

Covering Iowa Politics and The Register are on the story. The Iowa Republican has coverage, as well.

As I’ve said before, I think anyone who underestimates Rants is making a mistake. He’s smart and driven. And he could be formidable if he succeeds in his effort to build a connection with both social conservatives and Republicans who care more about tax and budget issues.

Bob Vander Plaats, the only other candidate who has jumped in, must think Rants has a chance on the right. Otherwise he wouldn’t have delievered that broadside earlier this week on the gay marriage/executive order issue.

Now it’s a race. It’s going to be pretty interesting, and probably more crowded before it’s over.

A Taste for Whiskey

Iowans have purchased 1,117 cases of Iowa-made Templeton Rye this year through the end of May, according to the state’s Alcoholic Beverages division. That’s good for 94th among the state’s Hot 100 brands.

Not too shabby. A 13 percent increase over a year ago. I’ve done my part for the home team.

So what’s No. 1?  Black Velvet, with 38,000 cases.

The Rantsolution Will be Tweeted

Republican gubernatorial explorer Christopher Rants tells the Muscatine Journal that if he ever formally jumps into the race, he will make the annoucement on Twitter:

“I am exploring running for governor,” said Rants, 41 — a Sioux City Republican, 17-year veteran of the Iowa Legislature and former Speaker of the House. He declined to say when he would make a decision, adding that he would explore a campaign for as long as he can receive free publicity. He will eventually announce his decision on the social-networking Web site Twitter, Rants said.

No fateful tweet at this hour. But earlier this morning, Rants tweeted that he now has 19,874 miles on his odometer.

History, 140 characters at a time, folks.

In other GOP gubernatorial news, Krusty Konservative says Doug Gross is convening another meeting of  “a bunch of know-nothing, washed up moderates.”  No word on when the unelectable wingnuts will meet. Krusty then offers his take on roughly 673 potential Republican candidates.

In case you missed it, movie toughman and martial arts expert Chuck Norris has endorsed Bob Vander Plaats. But oddly, Vander Plaats did not return the favor by endorsing Total Gym.

Oh, and state Rep. Rod Roberts is politely asking us to remember him when we think of potential governors. No problem, Bob.

Sunday Column – Tweet On, Chuck

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is coming at us live, raw and unfiltered.

I, for one, like it.

In case you missed it, last weekend President Barack Obama used his weekly radio address to urge Congress to get moving on health care reform. The speech was broadcast while Obama was in France to commemorate D-Day. The prez also took in some Paris sightseeing.

Grassley saw this as an unfair and unwarranted croissant fired across the congressional bow. And he took his anger to Twitter, the online microblogging/instant messaging tool he’s embraced to convey his thoughts in recent months.

It’s all the rage. And Grassley was enraged.

“Pres Obama you got nerve while u sightseeing in Paris to tell us ‘time to deliver’ on health care.

We still on skedul/even workinWKEND,” Grassley said in his first fiery Twitter tweet, which is limited to 140 characters.

Fire two: “Pres Obama while u sightseeing in Paris u said ‘time to delivr on healthcare’ When you are a ‘hammer’ u think evrything is NAIL I’m no NAIL.” Instantly, this was news. Tweets heard ’round the world. And not all that world embraced Grassley’s digital diatribe.

Gawker, the snarky Manhattan-based blog, called Grassley an “illiterate jackass.” Pundits and politicos piled on.

When I defended Grassley on my blog, some readers took issue. “Once upon a time, we valued eloquence. Now we get ‘We still on skedul/even workinWKEND,’ ” B.J. Smith wrote.

Even I admit that when I heard his tweets read aloud on NPR, I cringed with a reflex hammered into me by a long line of English teachers.

Still, I say Grassley should keep his itchy Twitter finger and keep firing at will.

I don’t know how many hours of my life I’ve lost listening to politicians recite tired talking points and prepackaged, poll-tested platitudes. I’ve read thousands of useless, jargon-laden news releases. And by read, I mean skimmed and deleted.

Now, we have Grassley, sending out his authentic thoughts in real time from his BlackBerry-clicking thumbs, with unvarnished emotion.

I have no problem with that. I applaud it. Agree or disagree, it’s hardly business as usual.

I happen to disagree with his objection to Obama’s sightseeing. The last thing we need is another isolated president locked in a bunker.

But Grassley’s tweets, grammatically fractured as they are, give us some insight into the emotions and frustrations infusing a very important policy debate. That’s a glimpse we won’t get from the senator’s press flaks.

So keep tweeting, senator, even if you get hammered for it. After all, you’re no NAIL.

RELATED — Grassley explains his tweets to Slate’s John Dickerson.

A Well-Crafted Argument

On Monday, the Iowa Board of Pharmacy rejected calls for allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes. But only after board members thought very long and hard about the issue:

Board member DeeAnn Wedemeyer-Oleson compared the decision to her teenage years when she argued to her father she should be able to stay out later because other her friends did.

“He said, ‘Well, if all of your friends jumped off a bridge, does that mean you should jump off the bridge?’ So to me, this whole other 12, what is now 13, states allowing medical marijuana use is not at all sufficient to allow the board of pharmacy to make a decision,” she said.

Brilliant. (Sarcasm)

Battle Flags Program Survives

Jeff Morgan, spokesman for the State Historical Society, says a state effort to save tattered battle flags carried home by Iowans from the Civil War and other conflicts still has enough cash to keep going.

In January, Gov. Chet Culver’s budget proposal did not include funding for the program. But when the dust settled and the legislative session ended last month, Morgan said $188,000  remains in place to cover battle flag costs during the next budget year.

That’s enough to pay for two full-time employees and for supplies, he said.

Most of the flags are from the Civil War, a conflict where 76,000 Iowans fought and more than 13,000 died. Iowans fought in pivotal battles, including Shiloh and Vicksburg.

For  soldiers, the regimental flags served as a beacon in the chaos of the battlefield. Sight of the flag kept them aware of their unit’s position and its movements. And  troops felt a keen emotional connection to the colors – many sewn by folks back home.

One of the most famous flags in the collection was carried by the 2nd Iowa Regiment. (Shown above) I wrote a story on the battle flag effort back in May of 2001 and described that flag’s historic role in a famous battle involving Iowa troops:

Cpl. Voltaire P. Twombley was not the first man to hoist the Second Iowa Regiment’s silken battle colors on Feb. 15, 1862 – the day plowboys, shopkeepers and assorted volunteers stormed Fort Donelson, Tenn.

First to clutch the standard was Sgt. Harry Doolittle of Davenport, who was hit three times during a withering exchange of fire. Cpl. Solomon Garfield Page, also of Davenport, was killed with the colors in his hands. Cpl. James Churchill of Clinton was then wounded as he hauled the banner forward to within just yards of the entrenched Confederate defenses.

Twombley, from Keosauqua, snatched up the flag, only to be smacked down by a stray shot. But he scrambled to his feet and pushed through the rebel line. The key outpost fell into union hands and Twombley won the Civil War equivalent of the Medal of Honor.

“The unfaltering onset of those gallant men is written in the sleepless memory of a million freemen,” said Iowa House Speaker Rush Clark as he received the flag in Des Moines weeks later.

Now that’s a House speaker with flair.  

Stabilizing the flags for storage and display is a painstaking process that’s been going on for the better part of this decade. There are 295 battle flags in the state collection, and one flag can take several weeks of work.

Clearly, they’re worth preserving as a tangible relic and reminder of Iowans’ remarkable sacrifice in America’s bloodiest war. Word that the program will continue is good news this Memorial Day.